Quality is terrible. This place used to be called baystate shawarma it was sold in early 2025 and it's awful. The flavors of the meats & rice are bland I'll never go back. read more

delicious authentic shwarma kabobs toum, tabouli falafel, very good, very nice people, good service

Food is solid. Had beef shawarma and side of hummus. Shawarma was tasty--I enjoyed how the pita was on the crispy side. Hummus was good as well and comes with a side of pita. I did also order fries on the side but unfortunately it was nothing special. Was hoping it was seasoned a bit like some places. Restaurant had plenty of seating and is a/c'ed during a warm day. Bathrooms were decently clean. Staff was very welcoming. read more

Bay State Cafe & Market - Beef Shawarma and Hummus. Thumbs up. - Middle Eastern Near Me - Worcester, Massachusetts

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So...I ordered again. I gave up on the dry shawarma and went with the kafta kebab. Great flavor but...dry. What's with the dry meats people?!?!?! It was better the next day when I warmed it up. I don't know what "Za 'Atar Pie" is but it was supposed to have data. I got the same old stake piece of bread as the last time. Oh well. Rice...zero flavor. The biggest problem was that I it down on something really hard ..looks like a piece of plastic. ..do better!!!! read more

Bay State Cafe & Market - Hard piece of plastic in my food. - Middle Eastern Near Me - Worcester, Massachusetts

High quality food, spotless restaurant, 10 out of 10 experience in every category. The chicken Shawarma is great, but my favorite is the combo kebab plate . Also, when you order that they don't just reheat the meat they cook it fresh to order . read more

Here visiting and my favorite shawarma place ran out of chicken and beef and Bay State was recommended. I think I have a new favorite, the food was flavorful and cooked to perfection with amazing service. Thank you! read more

Bay State Cafe & Market - Chicken Shawarma Plate, Mixed Plate (beef and chicken & Beef Shawarma Sandwich - Middle Eastern Near Me - Worcester, Massachusetts

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This is my first time trying Shawarma and honestly this is a great dish. I got the three combo kebab and it had so many sides going in the plate. The beef kebab was a bit tough to chew, and both the chicken and beef could've been better seasoned perhaps. I did like how soft and tender the krafts was. The turnover spinach feta cheese surprisingly was potent. There is a strong feta cheese sour flavor with the dough combine but it was good. Just not my personal favorite tasting. read more

Bay State Cafe & Market - Turnover Spinach & Feta Cheese Pie - Middle Eastern Near Me - Worcester, Massachusetts

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This place never fails! We love the shawarma plates, but the kibbie and grapeleaves are also delicious. The hummus is excellent...one of the best we've ever had, except for Sittoo's:) The service is always pleasant in a warm, comfy atmosphere. Give them a try! read more

The restaurant itself is clean, with beautiful decor and some good dessert selections to take home. Service is polite. Didn't care for the crispy pita bread or shawarma, though, as I don't care for food with too much sauce, and vegan items I would have enjoyed on the online menu were nowhere to be seen on the menu on the wall. I hate to rule out a restaurant after one experience unless the food truly was awful, or the place was unsanitary. Perhaps I'll call ahead next time to see if those items are available. read more

The shawarma I got here was bomb. Falafel wasn't dry. Pita was crispy. Pickles were fresh. Couldn't ask for more. I think it's funny there's a dude that owns a lounge that sells Middle Eastern food, complaining about the size when the shawarma sandwiches you get in Dubai are 2/3 the size of Bay State. read more

Bay State Cafe & Market - a plate of food - Middle Eastern Near Me - Worcester, Massachusetts

Delicious! We ordered two chicken shawarma plates, a beef shawarma plate, chicken shawarma sandwich and a babaganoush. The plates came with rice, baked flatbread, and a side of hummus. The wrap was the same flatbread with the salad greens, shawarma, garlic sauce, pickles and beetroot wrapped inside. The vegetables were crisp and fresh, making a nice contrast with the grilled meats. The babaganoush had a wonderful charred flavor to it. We would love to come again! read more

Bay State Cafe & Market - Chicken Shawarma Sandwich - Middle Eastern Near Me - Worcester, Massachusetts

They have the best shawarma sandwiches! The meat melts in your mouth! Tasty to the very last bite I recommend asking for extra meat it makes the sandwich more filling otherwise you'll need to eat 2! I have been trying shawarma places around the Boston area trying to find another Bay State because they are so delicious but i have not found one that can compare how tasty their shawarma is. I travel all the way from south shore to get my taste! I plan trips back to Worcester just go get this tasty shawarma! Visit them NOW! read more

Best meat and spinach pies and more! Always a good meal, whether shawarma, kibbee, falafel or kebab. read more

Wow! I've eaten here before and the food was delicious! My god today the food was bordering on disgusting. I ordered the chicken shawarma, beef shawarma and kibbi. The beef was chewy and dry. The chicken was dry and flavorless. The kibbi was flavorful enough but compared to the other two meals it barely rose to flavorful. I don't know if there is a new cook or not but there should be! read more

Stopped here for the first time today, my tastebuds were super happy. I got a chicken plate which came with rice, pickled veggies, salad, hummus, sauce, and bread. I also got tabouli and grape leaves on the side. Everything tasted delicious, my favorite mustve been the white garlic sauce that came on the plate...it really out everything together. Price and portion were great, definitely recommend. read more

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Pretty cool. Reasonable pricing. They have a retail section too we picked up some pickled turnips. See the pics. Had a hunger for falafel so we popped of the highway and where not disappointed Cute neighborhood we will come back soon and try some of the other shops and restaurants read more

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Very tasty food. Enjoyed chicken shawarma plates, and a kofta plate; kibbe and felafel appetizers. The felafel was not as expected, drier than I have had elsewhere. Besides that it was all very good. We were there on Friday when pastry delivery was made - all very tempting. The baklava was very, very good. read more

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Honestly from the yelp reviews I expected something completely different. I was so taken aback when I discovered how dry the chicken was and the pita bread was cold. I had a lot of difficulty swallowing the food from how dry it was. The rice was good but that's only because it was uncle ben's rice with the little noodles inside. That stuff comes in a box so pretty much can't mess that up. The lettuce was over-saturated with vinegar and the mayo had such a strong garlic taste. I did not enjoy this meal at all and it's safe to say I will not be coming back here again. read more

Bay State Cafe & Market - Middle Eastern Near Me - Worcester, Massachusetts

One of best Arabic food in worcester area. Their beef and chicken shawarma is very delicious.

Overall, a solid experience. This is your average Mediterranean spot, with kabob platters and shawarma sandwiches. It seems like there may not be as many options in the Worcester area, so I can see why it's a popular spot. I think the best part of this location is the grocery store and bakery included. The food was tasty and they had large portions. Ambience is pretty average and service was quick. No complaints, but definitely a place to check out if you're craving authentic Mediterranean food! read more

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I hope the second chance is better than first. After being asked I told the truth micro waved chicken tasted like rubber hope the fresh new one comes off spit not the micro wave. The remake was spot on read more

I can't believe I only found out about this place over a month ago. I've been averaging about once a week since! One tip! Get here as soon as you can!! This place is amazing! Middle eastern/lebanese food for a reasonable price! Dinner plates from 6.99-10.99 which i recommend getting. Why? Well because you get a little bit of heaven on your plate! It comes with pita bread, hummus, salad, white garlic dip, rice and whatever you decide to get for your meat! Beef or chicken shawarma plate only 6.99! Try geting that price at sahara or el basha! They have a specialty grocery store in the back. Then a bakery with meat pies and pita pies ranging from 1.75-3.99! You will NOT be waited on in here, go to the counter and place an order for your food. Then take a seat anywhere! The people that work here are really nice! However sometimes at the restaurant it can get a little disorganized as far as who's paying, who's ordering, who's waiting? During lunch they do get busy so expect to wait a bit for the food but trust me its sooo worth it! read more

Bay State Cafe & Market - Beef shawrama - Middle Eastern Near Me - Worcester, Massachusetts

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Driving thru the area and very hungry we decided to check out this place. We got shawarma, Kofta and kebab sandwiches. While waiting for food to be grilled, started to chat with the staff and they were extremely friendly and welcoming! The sandwiches were done 10mins later. The size was on the smaller side but the were very very tasty! I think I enjoyed the shawarma the most. read more

Fantastic! Driving around Worcester looking for something tasty for a Sunday lunch...so glad we let Yelp lead us to this place. Delicious shwarma plate, falafel, grape leaves... Love that garlicky sauce and the hummus. Order at the counter. Plastic plates and utensils. Not fancy. Great food. read more

Bay State Cafe & Market - Falafel and stuffed grape leaves appetizers. Delicious! - Middle Eastern Near Me - Worcester, Massachusetts

Quality food, always fresh and delicious at affordable prices. Top 2 places in Worcester to get Shawarma.

This is probably the most disappointing experience ever. This place is middle eastern or at least it's supposed to be one.. I personally own a lounge with middle eastern food so and I would never ever sell anyone food like beef kabob or chicken kabob that look like The size of my nail. I called the place back and honestly the worker that answered me had no idea what was going on even after I explained everything to him and the cook in the kitchen as well. I was fed up and finally asked for a refund and the guy bluntly said we don't refund. I would never recommend this to anyone with a normal brain. Horrible experience read more

Bay State Cafe & Market - The smallest piece of Beef Kabob I have ever seen in my life - Middle Eastern Near Me - Worcester, Massachusetts

We just had a fantastic lunch at Bay State Shawarma and Grill. Some of the BEST Middle Eastern food we've ever had! read more

Bay State Cafe & Market - the front of the restaurant - Middle Eastern Near Me - Worcester, Massachusetts

Not the best, not the worst. Not good enough to rival the best Shawarma places you've been to. But good enough to fulfill a craving when you have it. Much better price point than other middle eastern places in the area. Customer service is solid enough. read more

My go to place for Mediterranean in the local Worcester area. Tend to just stick to my beef shawarma plate but there's plenty of dishes to select from. To-go or to dine in. Reasonably priced as well! Thumbs up read more

The best! The garlic sauce here is sooooooo good - get extra! It's this family-owned (I think) unassuming place. They might seem unfriendly at first but they care about their food and their food is really delicious and very cheap. I'm surprised to see some of the lower stars - it's some of the best shwarma in Worcester for sure. read more

WTF happened to this place came back again on Sunday night around 7pm place from the outside looked dead, we walk in and for some reason the place had no heat, why? It was freezing the lady at the counter had her jacket on and was just not in a good mood, just pure miserable, I was here a while ago and it wasn't this bad, they had some left over food that's was just sitting there all day, shawarma was disgusting, it was meat that's been sitting out. Never again I will come back here. A big joke read more

We went to this restaurant on a whim. Ordered the veggie plate and baklava. The woman that helped us was very pleasant. The food was delicious. Falafel was very tasty. The hummus and baba ganoush were a little bland. Would love a smokier baba and more garlic and lemony hummus. But both were very good. You get salad as well and not tabbouleh. The baklava was some of the best I've ever had and my grandmother is Lebanese! Definitely stop in to eat. And they have a market in the back if you're inspired to make something. read more

Best chicken shawarma I've ever had, hands down! The food was incredible, service was friendly and prompt. Plenty of vegetarian, vegan, and keto options too. Our party came in close to closing, and we were welcomed eagerly, invited to stay and eat past closing, and even given interesting facts about Arabic language from the friendly owner. Overall awesome, best restaurant experience I've had yet exploring Worcester. read more

Came here late night on a cold day hoping to fix my Mediterranean good craving and they did not disappoint. I had the chicken sharwama plate that came with hummus and salad - perfect mix of spice and savory. Wife had the veggie platter with salad, rice with chick peas - amazing, less than perfect hummus and some good baba ganush. All in a all, it will be repeat for us and may be bring some friends along next time. read more

Bay State Cafe & Market - Dinning area - Middle Eastern Near Me - Worcester, Massachusetts

We ordered takeout. I always order falafel when we get middle eastern food. I have my favorite places, this is not one of them. It's a Saturday, so I'd expect everything to be fresh. Not the case. The falafel was cold, stale and incredibly dry. It was like eating a week old donut hole. The pita bread was also incredibly dry. There was no amount of tahini that would have fixed the problems. A total fail. read more

Not quite how I feel about seeing my food microwaved in front of me and then watching my store-bought pita transferred from its packaging to my plate. Not at all impressed. read more

Nice people and awesome food. If you are in the mood for middle eastern food, and are in Worcester, this is now my first choice. We ordered a boatload of food, and nothing disappointed. The meats were moist and delicious, the grape leaves were fresh and delicious. I will be back to this place again. The worker, or owner, was also very attentive despite being insanely busy. read more

i ordered the chicken shawarma dinner plate here and absolutely loved it. We went in here on a weekend night and it wasn't super busy. Parking can be a challenge but it's Water St. The interior is spacious and the delicious smells hit you right away. We ordered our food and the staff behind the counter were quick to cook it up for us. We wandered through the little store set up in the rear while it was being prepared. The staff was very efficient and packing orders quickly. The food was enough for dinner that night and lunch the following day. I have to say the plate of food was better then most places I've tried. They did a really great job of creating many textures and tastes. The salad was fresh, the hummus was delicious and the chicken was seasoned well. Plentiful food, quick service and it was overall pretty inexpensive. Can't wait to go back. read more

My husband chose this restaurant after reading about it online. We love Middle Eastern food and were thrilled with our experience. While the restaurant doesn't look like much as another reviewer mentioned, the food was FANTASTIC! The toum was the best that we have ever had! So garlicy and bright with the flavor of lemon! The chicken scawarma was tender, juicy and absolutely delicious! The rice had the perfect amount of lemon and the hummus was delectable! Placed on our plates was beautiful hot pink pickled vegetables that we thought were radishes, but later found out were thinly sliced pickled turnips colored with beet roots, or the greens from beets!! I could eat a whole jar of these! I loved them so much that I am going to make some and am thinking that they would be fabulous on anything including a hamburger. Yum!! Super friendly staff!! This restaurant is a 5 minute walk from Kelly Square Market and we HIGHLY RECOMMEND!!! read more

I need to edit my last review. Since I love this restaurant I gave it another chance and returned twice since my review 3 months ago. The food was delicious as I first remembered it. The people behind the.counter seemed a little friendlier. I brought friends with me who also enjoyed their selection. If they continue providing delicious middle eastern food and good service I can't see why they won't continue to succeed in our community. I've been coming here for 2 yrs, always happy with their food. Recently I came with a friend who couldn't finish her chicken shawarma--it was cold and dry. I had the beef shawarma that was not as good as I remembered. I think they're adding a hooka bar and since I don't smoke, doubt I'll be returning to this once great Middle eastern food establishment with decent ample places to sit comfortably in downtown. read more